In Your Shoes - Laura Costello

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Laura is the Manager of Dundee FC Community Trust and has worked in health and wellbeing for over 10 years, building extensive experience in supporting individuals and communities to improve both their physical and mental health. Laura previously worked with SAMH as a Behaviour Change Practitioner, where she developed a strong foundation in person-centred practice, supporting individuals to make sustainable lifestyle changes. Alongside this, Laura has delivered mental health awareness programmes in partnership with the SPFL Trust, as well as menopause awareness sessions, working with a wide range of age groups and communities.

With a particular strength in group facilitation, Laura creates safe, inclusive spaces where people feel heard, valued, and empowered to make positive changes. She is passionate about taking a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, recognising the importance of emotional, social, and physical health in driving meaningful outcomes.

As a leader, Laura is committed to developing a management style that is rooted in empathy, respect, dignity, and empowerment fostering a positive culture that supports both staff and participants to thrive. Her passion lies in supporting people of all ages within the community to feel connected, confident, and capable.

No two weeks are ever the same in my role, but each day brings opportunities to support people, build connections, and make a real difference in our community. Here’s what a typical week looks like!

Monday - Building Strength Through Prostate FFIT

The week kicks off with our Prostate FFIT group, delivered in partnership with Prostate Scotland. This 12-week programme supports men living with prostate cancer to make positive lifestyle changes tailored to their diagnosis.

It’s an incredibly powerful programme. Watching participants arrive in week one with understandable apprehension, then seeing their confidence grow week by week, is something special. The peer support that develops is just as impactful as the physical improvements - their social connections strengthen, their emotional wellbeing improves, and they begin to truly back one another.

We finish each session with a game of walking football and while it's “walking”, the competitive edge is definitely still there – I am forever watching this through my fingers…

Tuesday – Supporting Young People with Ahead of the Game

On Tuesday I worked alongside Callum, our Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, to deliver a relatively new initiative in partnership with SAMH called Ahead of the Game.

This programme focuses on helping young people better understand anxiety and depression, while also equipping them with skills to support a friend who may be struggling.

I love these sessions. One of the most powerful messages we share is that anxiety is not always the enemy - and that even as adults, we don’t always have everything figured out, and that’s completely okay. Taking these sessions into clubs and schools across the city is not only great fun, but also a fantastic way to strengthen partnerships and embed wellbeing support directly into communities.

Wednesday – Planning, Partnerships & Looking Ahead

Wednesday is usually a planning and admin day.

Recently, with Scotland reaching the World Cup, we had a brilliant opportunity to organise celebration family fun days in partnership with St Fergus Primary School. From arranging pipers and food to planning games and activities, it’s all about creating memorable community experiences.

With summer approaching, I’ve also been focusing on shaping our summer programme, ensuring we offer engaging, inclusive activities that meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Thursday – The Power of Ongoing Support

Thursday is my favourite day of the week - when our Prostate Support Group meets.

This group brings participants together for a cup of tea, a chat, and a space where they can simply be themselves. Conversations range from football to everyday life - and sometimes, there is no agenda at all. But what remains constant is the quiet support they offer each other.

Every member of this group previously completed the Prostate FFIT programme, and thanks to secured funding, we’ve been able to continue this vital support network. The goal is simple: when someone walks through our doors for the first time, they become part of our community for the long term.

Friday – Investing in Growth and Leadership

Fridays are dedicated to my own professional development. I’m currently halfway through a CMI Level 5 in Management and Leadership, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

A key learning that has really resonated with me is the relationship between values, culture, and impact:

Values shape culture → culture drives employee engagement → engagement drives participant satisfaction → satisfaction creates meaningful impact.

It’s reassuring to see that the values I have worked hard to embed - respect, empathy, dignity, and empowerment - are not only shaping a positive internal culture, but are also creating meaningful change in the communities we support.

These are sometimes described as “soft” values in the business world, but in my experience, they are the most important ones.